Unheated Sapphire and Ruby Rings Collection!

[Sparklemore]

Hi all,
I’ve been a longtime member but haven’t posted much in the last few years. I’ve discovered my love for Unheated sapphires and rubies lately and wanted to share some of my finds. I’ll start with this first one and add to the thread over the next few days.

First up is a very special sapphire - 4.20 carat unheated lavenderish with very rare opalescence (shows some pink flashes too in certain lights). AGL was excited to see this stone as it appears opalescence in sapphire is pretty rare.I found this sapphire in an Edwardian stick pin, so its from the early 1900s, and sent it to Inken at Enhoerning Jewelry to get certified at AGL. Once we knew it was Unheated, she created a custom setting for it based on an antique Georgian design. Rose cut diamond halo in oxidized silver on a gold intricate shank. The result is such a cool and unique ring. I’m curious if anyone here has ever seen or heard of an opalescent sapphire before?

 

[voce]

Congrats on your cool ring! This is the first time I'm seeing or hearing about opalescent sapphire.

 

[Rfisher]

:swoon:

It’s fantastic! I love the stone and the new gorgeous setting!
Can you show the original stick pin? I’m curious!
Was it sold to you as a sapphire?

 

[finerthings]

OMG what a beautiful and incredible find! I too have never heard of a sapphire with opalescence, it looks so dreamy. Your setting is perfect, and looks wonderful on your hand.

 

[finerthings]

Can't wait to see your Ruby!

 

[Sparklemore]

Here it is! Yes it was sold to me simply as an Edwardian Sapphire Gold Stick Pin. It was such a perplexing color.


y

 

[lovedogs]

Wow, what a unique and lovely piece. Congrats!

 

[Bluegemz]

Wow, I LOVE these colors! Fabulous and ethereal! Congratulations!!

 

[Slickk]

I love it! The stone is very pretty and intriguing and the setting is so delicious! Beautiful piece!

 

[arkieb1]

I hope this isn't a rude question is it just milky and the right colour to look blue with an opalescent effect, or does it have water traces that causes opalescence like opals do below is the definition of opalescence in opals;

"Opalescence is confined largely to the blue spectrum during reflection of short wavelength light rays. It is because of this phenomenon that a gemstone appears turbid with a shiny blue surface. Another reason, it appears blue is due to the significantly high traces of water, which could be as much as 21% of the silica crystal volume.

The spaces where water is present hinder the passage of light, making the gemstone look milky. Through these spaces, no diffraction occurs. The internal scattering around the water traces render the opal its characteristic opalescence."

It's a cool stone either way, I'm just a gem geek that wants to know the chemical composition that explains why something is that way.

 

[strawrose]

That is very cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rad_Fan]

Here it is! Yes it was sold to me simply as an Edwardian Sapphire Gold Stick Pin. It was such a perplexing color.


y

I hope that you kept the original pin setting...the craftsmanship is exquisite to me, look at the crown style basket and fine prongs !

 

[Sparklemore]

I believe opalescence in opals is a little different than in diamonds or other stones. It does have a milky appearance but not a lot of blue. There is several definitions, such as this one:

• noun: the visual property of something having a milky brightness and a play of colors from the surface.

I have an opalescent diamond that is milky but different from this stone. This sapphire has more color play. Other than that I’m not too sure of the official science of it all, just that I love the look it produces, and AGL really knows their stuff so was very excited when they identified it in the comments.

 

[Sparklemore]

Here’s the second ring: Antique Edwardian (from 1900s) certified 10.32 carat unheated yellow sapphire, with old cut white sapphire halo. I purchased this one from Enhoerning Jewelry after she showed it me in person during a trip to NYC. I fell in love with it! Moderate saturation.

 

[Bluegemz]

Gorgeous and subtle! I love everything about it

 

[finerthings]

Wowsers, another beauty!

 

[Sparklemore]

One of the rubies: Antique Victorian Unheated almost 20 carat 6 star ruby with diamonds and 14k gold. Found this one at a jewelry store in Beverly Hills.Unfortunately the store cleaned the beautiful patina but it will come back eventually.

 

[finerthings]

OMG! Incredible, and I have never seen a star ruby before in my life... wow! I have been away for many years, and since returning I am dumbfounded by the jewels owned by PS members. @Sparklemore, this is a museum worthy jewel!! Do you wear it often?

 

[Rfisher]

That gallery!!!
:swoon:

 

[Sparklemore]

Thank you! I do - especially when it’s bright sun outside so the star really shows well. Nature’s gemstones can be amazing, especially considering the Star is due to intersecting silk inclusions!

 

[pammbw]

Fabulous rings with amazing stones! Thanks for sharing!

 

[wordie89]

Smalls! Youre killin' me!

Double wows! Such lovely unusual stones. Seems as if the 4+ct stick pin would be very top heavy. I guess it would be worn through a stiff fabric.

 

[Sparklemore]

Good point, must have been!

 

[Sparklemore]

Three stone certified Unheated Ceylon Blue Sapphire ring (middle stone is approx 11 by 8. I wanted a three stone blue sapphire ring for a while and was elated when I found this one!

 

[Mildly OCD Bovine]

@Sparklemore You have a great eye - all lovely stones. Wear them in good health, and happiness.

 

[Sparklemore]

And here is my latest custom ring project featuring 3 Gia certified Burma Unheated rubies in an antique style rose cut diamond platinum and 18k ring. The rubies were sources by Inken @enhoerningjewelry and the ring also made by her. Super sparkly!

 

[prs]

Your ring collection is to die for, but your gem box caught my attention. You may know of Jerry and the Pacemakers 1964 huge hit record "Ferry Cross the Mersey". That ferry ran between Liverpool and Birkenhead, no doubt your Birkenhead jeweler had a very successful business back when ship building was a major industry in that area.

 

[Sparklemore]

Your ring collection is to die for, but your gem box caught my attention. You may know of Jerry and the Pacemakers 1964 huge hit record "Ferry Cross the Mersey". That ferry ran between Liverpool and Birkenhead, no doubt your Birkenhead jeweler had a very successful business back when ship building was a major industry in that area.

Oh yes I know that song! Very cool thanks for pointing that out. I’m sure you are absolutely right. So fun to think about the history of not only the jewelry but also the boxes

 

[Efleon]

Having trouble breathing your pieces are soooo incredibly gorgeous.
Thank you so much for sharing

 

[Sparklemore]

Here is another one made by Enhoerning Jewelry, with a certified Unheated velvety Kashmir-like Blue Sapphire and 2 oecs set in platinum. paired with a Victorian five stone OEC carved gold hoop.